Fluoroscopic screen holder



Dec. 4, 1934. .1. J. GROBE 1,982,954

FLUOROSCOPIC SCREEN HOLDER I Filed Aug. 30, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR De'c. 4, 1934.

J. J. GRoBE 1,982,954

FLUOROSCOPIC SCREEN HOLDER Filed Aug. 30, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3INI/ENTOR ATTO A/Ey Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNIT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE1,982,954 FLUoRoscoPIc SCREEN HOLDER Julius J. Grobe, OakPark, Ill.,assignor to General Electric X-Ray Corporation, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of New York Application August 30, 1930, Serial No. 478,811

Y 11 Claims.r (Cl. Z50-34) I'he present invention relates to ailuoroscopic screen holder and particularly has to do with means forcounterbalancing such a screen and with the construction of the screensupport.

In X-ray apparatus, a uoroscopic screen is an invaluableV accessory. Tohave flexible manipulation of such a screen is highly desirable. It isone of the primary objects of the present invention to provide easymanipulation of a fluoroscopic screen. To obtain such flexibleoperation, a unique system of counterweighting has been devised and thestructure of the holding partsV nection with the present invention. Suchdesign oflscreen support has as its object the provision of an uniqueVmeans for supporting Ia iiuoroscopic screen and for attaching it to anX-ray table or 2g;r the like.

These objects, and such others as `may hereinafter appear, are obtainedby the uniquearrangement, improved combination, and novel constructionof the various parts assembled into a single embodiment of the presentinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings ycomprising threesheets, hereby made a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view ofthe system of screen supportand counterweighting employed; f

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a physical embodiment of the device asapplied to an X-ray table, the full lines disclosing the device inoperable positionacross a table, and the dotted lines, the position ofthe screen when thrown back out of use;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the device shown in Figure 2, the tableand supporting structure being removed and the screen upright;

Figure 4 is a detail, partly in plan and partly in section showing themeans whereby the screen is locked within its bifurcated supportingframe; and

5o i Figure 5 is a plan view of the device illustrated in side and endelevations in Figures Zand 3.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in thedrawingsand in the description of the invention which follows. A

The device comprises primarily a screen and Y Each is more completelyillustrated in the suc``v prising` side members 28 and transversemembers frame, designated A, a pivoted support B therefor, acounterweight C, and cables D. These members are shown in Figure 1 insimple form.

ceeding gures, now to be fully described. l

In Figure 2, the numerals l0, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, represent,respectively, the sides (10) of an X-ray table, the supports (11)therefor, the bottom rails (12) therein, the top rails (13) thereof,supports (14) for said rails, a dished top (15) 65 Vfor the table, acarriage (16) for an X-ray tube,

and a' tube (17) carried thereby, the carriage 16- riding intermediatethe paired rails 12 and 13. The construction illustrated is conventionalin that such illustration istaken from a table now a* -being built by anX-ray table manufacturing company of national reputation, the tableitself being the subject matter of an application for Letters Patent nowpending'in the United States Patent Oilce. p

From the side of the carriage 16, parallel rod supports 19 project forthe attachment `of the present apparatus. Such projection is .usually atthe far side of the table, or at what may be called suitable 80` itsrear. Secured to the rods 19 in any manner, and preferably freelydetachablevtherefrom, is a frame 204 comprising a pair of side members21, cross members 22 and 23, and a central supporting member 24.

Members 21 are identical but opposed. In each ,85m

are bearings v25 and 26 journalled for freerotation therein. The framemembers 21 are each'enlarged to cover saidbearingsand are also enlargedto provide bosses 27 about the rods19.

The shapeof the frame 20 or of its Yseveral parts, 90 im is one ofchoice', and theparticular Varrangement disclosed is'selected forsymmetry of outline as well as utility. The member 22 terminates in an'upwardly pointed section while the section 24 is primarily a U-shapedtrough to provide a casing 95 for the cables (D) later to be furthermentioned.

Within the frame 20 which is bowed, as is shown in Figure 2, is arectangular frame com- 29 and 30. The members 28 are tubes or rods 100`lriding on the bearings 25 and 26 between whichH they may be raised andlowered,l (conjointly of` course), to raise and lower al screen" (Alandf screen support (B) later to be more completely described. l

Member 29 maintains the members 28 in spaced. relation at the bottom ofthe frame and has as its center bearings for two pulleys 31 and 32.Members'30 project forwardly to the edge ofthe table 5 to provide endbearings for a member'40. Jour- 110 t' nailed in member 30 are twopulleys 36 and 37.

Projecting upwardly from member 29 there may be cable housing 18, whichhousing extends over pulleys 36 and 37. In the member 22, there is'disposed a pulley 38, and another pulley 39 is secured in member 24adjacent member 23. Member 40 includes a rearwardly projecting arm 41,and an upwardly or forwardly extending arm 42. Each of said arms has anend of a cable secured thereto. That extending from member 41 isdesignated 43, and passes over plulley'3'7, downwardly beneath pulley39, and is anchored in counterweight 52.

From member 42, a cable extends over pulley 36, around pulleys 31 and32, through the counterweight 52, over pulley 38 and is then'anchored inthe opposite side of said counterweight 52. The counterweight 52comprises a rectangular member..

having bearings 45 at each corner, said bearings riding on the inside ofparallel tubes 28. There is an aperture 46 through the counterweight 52to allow the cable 44to ride therethrough and suitable cable anchorstherein for both cables 43 and 44. lUpon themembers 30is a two endedboss 47 'fJwhich has bumper cushions, 48 and 49, at each end, whichbumpers are adapted to be impinged by cushions 50 and 51 securedrespectively to arms 41 and 42 of frame member 40.

Frame member 40 also has a bifurcated section 3f-53 at the ends of whichare pivot supports 54 for a rectangular screen rframe 55. Within theframe 55 is a iluoroscopic screen 56, and at its ends are handles 57. Italso vhas a boss 58 at its inner end Min which ythere is disposed alocking member com- Uprising a,plunger 59 having a locking end 60. Saidplunger 59 is mounted for reciprocal motion in a suitable aperture inboss 58 and which closely engages one section of the shank of saidplunger from whichprojects a knob 61 whereby t* the plunger may be movedmanually.

About another section of the plunger 59, not closelyengaged by thematerial of boss 58, is a coiled spring 62 which urges the head 60 outywardly, the rend ofthe enlarged open section of thef'b'oss58 surroundingsaid' spring forming a seat 63 f or the said spring. In this manner, theframef55 may be locked in position in alignment with Ithe bifurcatedsection 53, or it may be rex leased therefrom for pivotal movement fromsupportingpartsB/l.

The iiuoroscopicscreen as a whole, including its frame andtherectangular supports 28, 29 and 30, maybe moved as a unit.` Whenlifted, the countmerweght 52 moves downwardly. The cables'43 """and 44'are sfOiarranged, by reason of movable pulleys 36-37 andf3l'32` and xedpulleys 38 and 39, that they exert'a down pulling influence uponcounterweight 52." When the screen is forced `J downwardly, the weight52 goes up because ofthe same arrangement.v

When screen 56 'and support 53 are tilted, as is shownin Figure 1 fromhorizontal to vertical, the latter position being assumed for manyreasons,

65 ,forexampla to allow the positioning or removal of a'patientfrom theX-ray table, or because the screen is not'required, then cable 43passing over draws the weight 52 downwardly. At the same time, cable 44on the opposite arm of the frame 7540, and threaded over pulleys 36, 31,32 and`38 and then anchored `in AWeight 52, releases the counterweightadistance equal vto the pull thereon.A Whenthe screen is pulled to the'`horizontal, then the vmovementof the weight 52 is reversed,

` the pull being through cable 44.

Thus one counterweight 52 is made to balance the vertical movement ofthe screen and its appendages to render the screen freely adjustable,and is also made to facilitate the movement of the screen from oneextreme movement to its other extreme position. When vertical, thecounterweight maintains the screen in upright position. Likewise, itfacilitates the maintenance of the screen in horizontal position-when sodisposed, permitting ready manipulation up and down and upon the axes54. The arrangement described lends unusual .flexibility to the screen.

I claim;

1. Incombination, a stationary frame, a screen, aholding member for saidscreen and having upwardiyk anddownwardly projecting arms, a secondframe movable vertically on said stationary frame, said screen holdingmember being pivotally connected to said movable frame to admit of saidscreen being tiltable on an axis external to the body of saidiscreenfroma substantially horizontal positiontofa 'substantially verticalposition, a. single counterweight, cables between f said arms and. saidcounterweight, and pulleys for guidingsaid cables, said counterweightbeing moved with ytiltable adjustments of said screen holdingmemberiandbeing adapted to maintain said movable'frame in a selectedvertical position.

2. In combination, a screen holding memben4 a luoroscopic screen in saidmember, a rriovabley frame Aon which said screen holding member` is ipivotally connected, a stationary frame forsaid movable frame and alongwhich it is movable, a., Cltweght ffof Said Screen holding mmbry; saidscreenV andwsaid movable frame, ,opposed con- .1m necting meansintermediate said counterweighti; and Said Screen. hQldmg membelf, and56011116@ ,t0 the latterf'atiopposite sides of the pivotal connectiontherefor, and means `for guiding said connecting" means.u

3l ,In Combination@ Stationary kfratrie.haring Side members, a movableframe reci,llrroable,on.fsaid side membera'a screenholding memberpnlotallyrconnected to said -movable frame, a screenin said screenholding member, a counterweight; for, SMQmQVabIe frame, screenholding.member and screen,l anchoring means on sai d,sc re aen.v

holdingmember at oppositesides ofthe pivotal connection of saidscreenholding, member, flexible, connecting means between said arlchoringglg,`meansand opposite sidesk of said counterweight,yl and means for` guidingsaidliexiblegconnecting means.

4- In. Combination, a 4Stationary,frame havin sidemeinbers, a movable`frame `reciprocable in lgo, said stationary frame, a screen holdingmembers pivotally connectedv to said movable rameand having arms aboveand below such; pivotal. con.- nection, a fluoroscopic screen in saidscreen hold-` ing member, a counterweight, opposed=;cables from the topand.y bottomr of said counterweight to the top and bottom arms on saidscreen ho1d-,. ine ..IlfxerlllqerlY and Stationary vpulleys and pulleysmovable with said movableframe for guiding. said cables. i

5. In combination, a stationaryframe, a movable, `tranne .reciprocableon saidstationary `frame, a screenholding memberpivotally connectedtosaid movable frame, a luoroscopic screen n; Said, Screenfhldee member@counterweightfor Sad mollble frame." Screen-holding .membliand Screenand ieeipreeble. Vin.Seid5119x11-l 1a.frana iiexible'z, connecting.means. .between .i said screen y holding member .and .Seid counterweight.9114s.

mens .Oefseidlsriationarr and Onsaidemevahls 15a.

frame for guiding said flexible connecting means.

6. In combination, a stationary frame, a movable frame reciprocable insaid stationary frame, a screen holding member pivotally connected tosaid movable frame and having arms above and below such pivotalconnection, a screen in said screen holding member, a counterweight forsaid movable frame, screen holding member, and said screen andreciprocable in said movable frame, cable guiding pulleys upon andmovable with said movable frame, other cable guiding pulleys on saidstationary frame and cables from the top and bottom of saidcounterweight to the top and bottom arms on said holding member andguided by said several pulleys.

7. In combination, a stationary frame, a movable frame reciprocable insaid stationary frame, a member for holding a fluoroscopic screenpivotally connected to said movable frame, a fluoroscopic screen in saidscreen holding member, a counterweight for said movable frame, screenholding member, and screen and reciprocable in said movable frame, andconnecting means comprising flexible cables between said counterweightand said screen holding member, and iixed and movable pulleys to guide`said cables to cause said counterweight to reciprocate in said movableframe when said movable frame is reciprocated in said stationary frameand said screen holding member is moved about its pivotal connection.

8. In combination, a vertically movable frame, a stationary frame forsaid movable frame and in which it reciprocates, a counterweightreciprocable in said vertically movable frame, a screen holding partpivotally connected to said vertically movable frame, a iluoroscopicscreen in said screen holding part, cables upon said screen holding partat opposite .sides of said screen and connected to said counterweight atopposite sides thereof, and means for guiding said cables comprisingiixed and movable pulleys.

9. In combination, a stationary frame, a movable frame in saidstationary frame and vertically reciprocable therein, a screen holdingmember pivotally connected to said movable frame and having an axis ofmovement transverse of said movable frame, a screen in said screenholding member, a counterweight reciprocable in said movable frame, anda system of connections from said screen holding member to saidcounterweight comprising cables at opposite sides of said screen holdingmember and said counterweight and guide pulleys for said cables wherebysaid counterweight is reciprocated in said movable frame coincidentallywith either angular movements of said screen holding member orreciprocable movements of said movable frame.

10. In combination, a stationary frame having side members, a movableframe reciprocable on said side members, a screen holding memberpivotally connected to said movable frame transversely thereof, saidscreen holding member having armsabove and below its pivotal connectionto said movable frame, a fluoroscopic screen in said screen holdingmember, a counterweight in said movable frame and reciprocable therein,

cables between said arms and opposite sides of` ,guiding said cables toreciprocate said counterweight in said movable frame upon angularmovement of said screen holding member and upon reciprocation of saidmovable frame.

11. A stationary substantially rectangular frame member, bearings at thecorners of `said frame member, a carriage comprising rails, acounterweight, the rails of said carriage riding in the bearings in saidframe and providing a track for said counterweight, a screen holdingmember pivotally connected to said carriage and having cable receivingarms at opposite sides thereof, a fluorescent screen in said screenholding member,lpulleys on said carriage, other pulleys on saidstationary frame, and` cables from said arms to opposite sides of saidcounterweight and guided by said pulleys.

JULIUS J. GROBE.

